I still remember that evening when Mr Bachchan called to say his son had got engaged.

“We’re at Aishwarya’s place and Jaya and I have just asked for Aishwarya’s hand for our son from her parents.” Some marital associations are made in heaven. Aishwarya and Abhishek were meant to be together. I had a small hand in how Ash (I hate calling her that) became Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. One day close to wedding
I was teasing her about how Aishwarya Bachchan would sound... Or would she continue to be called by her brand name Aishwarya Rai? I pointed out to her Rai is part of Abhishek’s ancestral name. His grandfather was Harivanshrai Bachchan, remember? That’s how Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was born.